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Leeston and Ellesmere County War Memorial

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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Rifleman John Butler

Description

TitleRifleman John ButlerSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJohn was born in Christchurch on 28th January 1895, brother of Frances Butler, later Mrs Joseph Dawson. Prior to enlisting he was a farm hand for Mr Lengnen, Killinchy. He had some previous military with the Burnham Industrial School, Senior Cadets (99th Company). He was 5ft 6 inches tall with a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair.

John enlisted on 13th October 1915 at Trentham and was assigned to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He embarked with the 3rd Battalion on the Waitemata on 12 February 1916 for Suez and arrived on the 19 March 1916. After training he left for France and the Western Front on board the Alaunia. He spent some time with 20th Artillery Company but re-joined his unit on 13 August. He was killed in action during the New Zealand Division attack on trenches around Goose Alley. The Court of Enquiry was told that about 10.30 on the night of October 2nd as C Company was being relieved, John was killed instantly by a shell which burst quite close to him in the trench. He had been one of the last to leave the strong point. He is buried in the Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps, Somme. In New Zealand John is remembered on the Ellesmere County War Memorial, Leeston Plaque and the Killinchy Roll of Honour.

Colincamps and "Euston", a road junction a little east of the village, were within the allied lines before the Somme Offensive of July 1916. The cemetery was started as a front line burial ground during and after the unsuccessful attack on Serre on 1 July, but after the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917 it was scarcely used. It was briefly in German hands towards the end of March 1918, when it marked the limit of the German advance, but the line was held and pushed forward by the New Zealand Division allowing the cemetery to be used again for burials in April and May 1918. The cemetery is particularly associated with three dates and engagements; the attack on Serre on 1 July 1916; the capture of Beaumont-Hamel on 13 November 1916; and the German attack on the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade trenches before Colincamps on 5 April 1918. The whole of plot I, except five graves in the last row, represents the original cemetery of 501 graves. After the Armistice, more than 750 graves were brought in from small cemeteries in the neighbouring communes and the battlefields. The cemetery now contains 1,293 commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 170 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 32 casualties known or believed to be buried among them, and to two soldiers whose graves in nearby small cemeteries were destroyed in later battles. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
First NameJohn Last NameButlerFamilySingleBrother of Frances ButlerDate of Birth28 January 1895Place of BirthChristchurchDate of Death2 October 1916Place of DeathFranceCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death21

Connections

CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OnePlaceKillinchy Last edited by: Sarah Davy

ImageLeeston and Ellesmere County War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryEuston Road CemeteryEllesmere County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarm HandRegiment or ServiceNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeEnlistment Details13th October 1915 at TrenthamService Number25/935 Embarkation12th February 1916TransportWaitemataAlauniaCountryNew Zealand

Attribution

Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license

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Rifleman John Butler